Chapter 83 – Well Overdue Pt. 1
“My guilt is an ocean for me to drown in.“–Nicola Yoon
Kiya
“Mija, please. Eat something.”
“I’m not hungry, Dad.”
“When was the last time you’ve eaten?”
“I don’t remember.”
On cue, my stomach growled like a ravenous bear, gnawing for nourishment. I knew Dad and my friends could hear it, but I didn’t have the energy to care. The smell of my favorite foods both pleased and nauseated me and the age ol‘ fear of vomiting it back up settled in the center of my mind. I don’t know if I could eat after all. that had happened.
Dad’s arm snaked around my shoulders, his wide hand pushing my head to rest on his shoulder. So warm. Worry drenched his pumpkin scent. How could he not be? This was the first time since my kidnapping where I sat and spoke with him. My friends, as wonderful as they were, helped me to get out of that dreadful dress Osiris gave me and brought my pajamas after I’ve showered. Despite the smooth cotton textile of my lavender set, I felt cold.
So cold.
“If you won’t eat, at least drink something.” Galen held up a cup filled with a green liquid with black pearls. swimming at the bottom. He punched a hole through the plastic top with a straw. “Avocado boba tea. You never pass up boba tea!”
His dark eyes twinkled with hope as he waited for me to take it. I didn’t. Nothing looked appealing for consumption. I shook my head and burrowed my face deep in Dad’s shoulder, wishing I’d just disappear off the fact of the earth. Galen sighed in defeat, settling the tea away.
Frigid chill wasn’t the sole sensation I was feeling. The snake emblem ‘tattooed on my right arm faded into washed–out colors compared to its former vibrancy hours before, as if it was withering away. It was disgusting. That symbol that connected me to Osiris, and I wanted to vomit stomach acid. My hatred for the bastard burned strong, like lava simmering under the unstable layer of a volcano. He did this to me. He put
this on me.
I almost wanted to carve it out of my skin. Fuck the damages.
The bed Dad and I were sitting on dipped behind me, and two strong arms snaked around my torso. A pathetic whimper echoed from my mouth as a warm head rested on my upper back, the scent of orange blossoms tickling both my nose and my joy. “You know you can talk to us, right?” Jackie asked. “We won’t judge you.”
They should be! I killed people and showed no remorse at doing so. My friends witnessed me tear Zircon Moon into shreds with a grin on my face, cheeks smeared with blood, and laughing. I became a riant maniac with eyes bleeding blood. How are they sitting here, wanting to take care of me after knowing all of this?
175
Chapter 53 Well Overdue Pt. 1
Aren’t they scared? Why aren’t they hating me? Where is the anger and frustration?
Goddamnit, this shit doesn’t make sense!
A gentle knock resounded through the bedroom, capturing our attention. Violetta poked her head through the crack, offering a meager smile. “Am I interrupting anything?”
Sapphire shook her head. “No, you aren’t. What’s up?”
Sea–green eyes met mine. “Neron wants to talk to you. Do you mind?”
Fear bubbled up in my chest, my head shooting up from Dad’s shoulder. Why would he? I knew we had to talk, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. How would he react when seeing me? I damn near killed him! Who’d want to speak to their attempted murderer?
away the Osiris‘ haunting, phantom hands tickling my arms and caressing my ear. “You both need this. There are a lot of things you both.
H
“But-”
not having any of that. Talk
I
plaguing my heart. Would Neron look at me the same way he did before?
he used to, full of malice and contempt. This time, there was
run. That
smile he didn’t retum with Lady Sanguine in the first
“Can you handle it?”
some
“Yes. I’ll mind–link you if
this. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it.” He looked at my friends and pointed his head to the door, gesturing for them to leave. Galen
in shortly after, closing the door behind
room deafening. I felt his eyes staring into my temple as I
cheeks while Neron’s cheeks blossomed a fierce pink. Well, at least we broke the ice, right? Embarrassing! He cleared his throat, rubbing his bandaged arm as his eyes searched
sit
me wanted him near, while the other warned of approaching danger; that same part that lived and breathed during my captivity. I pushed the latter down as far as I could. This wasn’t my cell thirteen
silent, uncertain who would make the first move
aren’t good at
החלקתה החריך
“Are you…
am
top, no doubt covering the rest of the wounds indicted on him. They shouldn’t be there. He’ll end up having scars like me. I’m feeling a little better. You don’t
“Okay,”
shifted his body
“No.”
knee on the
weight resoad in my palms in the hits shape of the life
i
my chaos flashed before
I can even taste the blood of the
asked, tearing my eyes from my palms
me
as you are now. What Is and
now. You have the god- like power to
was before I killed
Tristan before
into Odessa’s throat
revenge.
I’m confused Neron. We’re in the aftermath of that insanity, but I don’t feel… what I’m supposed
an by that?”
He chuckled.
my esophagus, anxiety bolting through my body. “You won’t look at me
here if I looked at you differently, Kiya. Give it your
my eyes closed, I sucked in a strong, trembling breath to stop the tears from dripping. “I don’t feel guilty for killing Odessa and the others. I can’t find it in me, and that scares me.
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